If you’ve used Windows 11 for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed it seems determined to get in your way.

Pop-ups, Microsoft account prompts, OneDrive reminders, Copilot, ads in the Start Menu, preinstalled apps you never asked for...and the list just keeps growing. The amount of time you can spend decluttering, to put it politely, is absurd. The…

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Sometimes no amount of troubleshooting seems to fix a Windows computer. Maybe it’s running painfully slow, acting strangely after a malware infection, or it’s a brand-new PC loaded with software you never asked for and don’t want.

When that happens, one of the most effective solutions is to start fresh.

The good news is that resetting Windows 11 is much e…

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One of the things that frustrates many Windows users today is how aggressively Microsoft pushes you toward signing in with a Microsoft Account during setup. For some people, that’s perfectly fine. For others, especially those who prefer to keep things simple, local, and independent of cloud services, it can feel like Microsoft is taking away a choice th…

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Most people know they should keep Windows updated. In fact, if you’ve ever asked a friend, family member, or tech support person why your computer is acting strangely, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the phrase, “Have you checked for updates?”

But here’s the thing: Windows Update is more than just a button you click once in a while.

Most Windows 11 use…

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Paid subscriptions have returned to KevinTheTechGuy.ca, but not in the traditional sense. Here’s what subscribers receive and why I believe it’s a fair balance.

Earlier this year, I made the decision to remove paid subscriber content from KevinTheTechGuy.ca.

At the time, it simply didn’t feel right.

Most of the information on this website was already available for free, and I wasn’t interested in locking away useful technology advice simply for the sake of having a paywall.

One of the things that has always bothered me about traditional paywalls is that they often appear at exactly the moment someone needs help most. If a person is troubleshooting a computer problem, or trying to solve an urgent issue, being stopped by a subscription popup before they can access the solution doesn’t feel helpful.

Technology information is often most valuable when something has already gone wrong. I never want readers to feel like useful knowledge is being held hostage behind a paywall.

After spending some time thinking about it, I’ve decided to bring paid subscriber content back, but in a much different form than before.

TL;DR

• Most articles on KevinTheTechGuy.ca will continue to remain completely free.

• Paid subscribers receive access to downloadable PDF guides, books, and tutorials designed to be saved, printed, and used as long-term reference materials.

• Many guides are based on existing articles, while others are available only as downloadable PDFs.

• PDF guides are easier to keep, print, reference later, and use during troubleshooting when reducing cognitive load matters.

• Due to ongoing health challenges, no new content will be created after June 2026.

• This subscription is different from most websites because you’re not paying for future articles, newsletters, or ongoing content.

• Instead, you’re supporting the years of research, testing, troubleshooting, writing, and real-world experience that went into creating the existing content library.

• Some guides are also available individually through Buy Me a Coffee for readers who prefer one-time purchases.

• My goal is to preserve and share the technology resources I’ve created over the years so they can continue helping people long into the future.

What Can You Expect?

Proper Printable PDF Guides

The vast majority of articles on this website will continue to remain free.

That includes Quick Tips, Kevin’s Picks, software recommendations, tutorials, and many of the articles that readers visit most often.

Rather than placing large portions of the site behind a paywall, paid subscribers will receive access to downloadable PDF versions of selected guides and tutorials.

These guides are designed to be saved, printed, and referred back to whenever needed.

The information itself often remains available through the original article. The PDF simply provides a more convenient format for long-term reference.

For me, the value isn’t in restricting access to information. The information itself remains available through the website whenever possible. The value comes from providing that information in a format that is easier to keep, organize, save, print, and refer back to months or even years later.

In other words, I’m not charging for knowledge itself. I’m offering a more permanent and practical way to keep that knowledge available when you need it.

Included Downloadable How To Guides (PDFs)

Included Downloadable How To Guides (PDFs)

Over the years, I have created hundreds of technology articles, some large and some small, covering everything from Windows maintenance and security, to software recommendations, streaming devices, backups, and everyday troubleshooting.

Many of those articles remain available to read for free on this website. However, paid subscribers receive access to downloadable PDF-only versions of select of my individual paid guides, including those NOT available as free blog posts.

Whether you are setting up a new computer, cleaning up an existing one, learning a new piece of software, or helping a family member solve a technology problem, these guides are designed to serve as practical reference materials rather than articles you read once and forget.

The collection currently includes full-length books, detailed how-to guides, and specialized tutorials covering topics such as Windows 11, software recommendations, system cleanup, Emby Media Server, Roku, and more.

Some guides are only a few pages long, while others are considerably more detailed. Together, they represent many years of troubleshooting experience, research, testing, writing, and real-world client support condensed into resources you can keep and use whenever you need them.

Why I Think This Is Fair

A web page is great when you’re reading something today.

A proper PDF guide is often more useful six months from now when you’re setting up a new computer, helping a family member, or trying to remember how to perform a task you haven’t done in a while. Having it sitting or propped up on the desk beside your screen is a much more comfortable reference. And if you’ve somehow lost it (hey, life happens), you can download it again.

Many people prefer having a proper, polished, formatted version they can print, save to their computer or devices, or simply download again later if needed.

To me, that feels like a fair balance. The information remains accessible, while paid subscribers receive something practical in return for their support.

There is also a practical advantage to having a local copy of important instructions. Websites change over time, or even go offline, links break, and hosting companies disappear. Entire websites sometimes vanish without warning.

A downloaded PDF remains available even if you’re offline or if the original webpage changes in the future.

This becomes especially useful during troubleshooting. Having instructions available on a printed page or a separate device can be far more useful than relying on a browser window on the machine you’re trying to repair.

Technology problems already create enough cognitive load on their own. When you’re trying to troubleshoot an issue, configure software, or recover a system, your attention is divided between understanding the problem and following the instructions.

Constantly switching back and forth between the guide and the task can increase frustration and make it easier to miss important steps. A printed guide or PDF on a separate device reduces that cognitive load, allowing you to focus on the work itself rather than managing the instructions.

A Personal Update

Some readers may already be aware of this, while others may be hearing it for the first time.

Due to ongoing health challenges, my computer repair business has permanently closed. After spending many years helping residential customers and small businesses with technology, I have reached a point where continuing the business is no longer possible.

I’ve written more about my situation in a separate post for those who would like additional background and context.

I don’t mention this to seek sympathy. I mention it because it explains many of the decisions I’ve been making regarding this website, including why no new content will be created after June 2026, and why I’ve been looking for a fair and sustainable way to preserve the work that already exists here.

While my circumstances have changed, I remain proud of the articles, guides, and resources I’ve created over the years. My hope is that they continue helping people long after I’ve stopped writing.

One thing I’ve come to appreciate is how temporary much of the internet really is. Helpful websites disappear, forum posts vanish, and tutorials that solved problems for thousands of people eventually become unavailable.

Part of what I’m trying to accomplish with these downloadable guides is to ensure that the knowledge and experience accumulated over many years of client work continues to exist in a useful form long after I have stepped away from creating new content.

No New Content After June 2026

Because of my health situation, no new content will be added to this website after June 2026.

That means a paid subscription here is different from most Substack publications.

You’re not subscribing for future articles, weekly email newsletters, or ongoing posts. Instead, you’re helping support the hundreds of hours that went into researching, testing, writing, editing, and maintaining the content on this website over the years.

Paid subscribers also receive access to a library of downloadable, properly formatted PDF guides based on many of those blog posts.

Most online subscriptions are built around future content. You subscribe because you expect new articles, new videos, new podcasts, or ongoing updates.

This subscription is different.

Rather than supporting future content creation, you’re helping preserve and support work that has already been created. You’re supporting the years of research, testing, troubleshooting, client experience, and writing that went into building this collection of resources in the first place.

Prefer Individual Purchases?

Not everyone wants a subscription. For that reason, some guides are also available individually through Buy Me a Coffee. If you’re only interested in a specific topic, purchasing a single guide may be a better fit.

Want More Details?

If you’re considering a subscription and would like to learn more about what’s included, I have created a dedicated page that explains the subscriber benefits, downloadable guides, and individual guide purchases in more detail.

Purchase Individual Guides

Want More Details?

If you’re considering a subscription and would like to learn more about what’s included, I have created a dedicated page that explains the subscriber benefits, downloadable guides, and individual guide purchases in more detail.

Support My Work

Upgrade to Paid

Thank You

Whether you choose to subscribe, purchase an individual guide, or simply continue reading the free articles, thank you for your support over the years.

This website has always been about making technology easier to understand without unnecessary jargon or complexity.

I hope these downloadable guides make that information easier to save, print, and refer back to whenever you need it.

And while no new content will be added after June 2026, I’m grateful that these articles and guides will continue helping people long into the future.

In many ways, these downloadable guides serve as a form of digital preservation. Every PDF that is downloaded, saved, backed up, or printed becomes another copy of knowledge that remains available independent of this website.

My hope is that the information continues to help people years from now, whether the guide is opened from a hard drive, a tablet, a cloud backup, or in a printed binder sitting on a shelf beside a computer.

— Kevin Lloyd

One question you might be asking is:

“Why become a paid subscriber to download your PDF guides when I can just print the article myself?”

It’s a fair question.

After all, most web browsers include a “Print as PDF” or “Save as PDF” feature. If all you’re looking for is a copy of an article, that might seem like enough.

In my experience, though, there are some important differences.

Better Formatting

Web pages are designed to be viewed on a screen, not printed.

When you print a web page, things don’t always end up where you expect them. Images can be split across pages, headings can appear at the bottom of a page with the content starting on the next one, and layouts don’t always translate well to paper.

My downloadable PDF guides are already formatted with printing and long-term reference in mind. The pages flow naturally, screenshots stay where they belong, and the guide feels more like a proper guide than just the web page(s).

Easier to Save and Organize

Most of us have downloaded a file, saved it somewhere, and then forgotten where we put it.

The advantage of having downloadable guides included in your subscription is that you can always come back and download them again if needed.

Whether you save them to Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, a NAS, or simply keep them on your computer, you’ll always know where to find the original copy.

Better for Offline Use

Internet connections aren’t always available.

Maybe you’re helping a friend troubleshoot their computer. Maybe you’re working on a laptop that isn’t connected to the internet yet. Maybe you simply prefer having important information available without relying on a website.

Properly formatted PDF guides can be opened virtually anywhere and read with ease, even without an internet connection.

My guides are based on my free blog posts on the same topic. The different is also the convenience, as it can be tough to follow a guide on the same screen you’re doing the steps on.

Easier to Print

Not everyone wants to read technical instructions on a screen.

Some people like to print a guide, place it beside the computer they’re working on, and check off the steps as they go. I know my Mom operates this way, and so have the majority of my clients over the years.

A PDF is much better suited to that task than a printed web page.

A More Permanent Reference

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that many people will use a guide today, then not need it again until six months from now. You might have lost the file or printed pages by then. Life happens.

You might read an article about Patch My PC today and think, “That’s useful.”

Six months later, you’re setting up a new computer and suddenly can’t remember where you saw that article.

Having a PDF guide saved in your documents folder, cloud storage, or available to you on my web page where all you need to remember is “Kevin The Tech Guy”, or have that in your bookmarks, makes it much easier to find again when you actually need it.

It’s About Convenience

The information in many of these guides is already available through individual articles on this website. The value of the PDF isn’t that the information is secret.

The value is convenience. It’s having a version that’s easier to save, easier to print, easier to organize, and easier to refer back to in the future.

That’s why I’ve started making selected articles available as downloadable PDF guides for paid subscribers.

Prefer to Purchase Individual Guides?

A paid subscription provides access to all available PDF guides, but I understand that not everyone wants or needs a subscription.

For that reason, some guides are also available for individual purchase through Buy Me A Coffee for $5 or $10 each:

• Buy Me a Coffee

If you’re only interested in a specific topic, such as a system cleanup, setting up a new computer, or another guide that catches your interest, purchasing a single PDF may be the better option.

Whether you choose a subscription or an individual purchase, my goal is the same: to provide practical, easy-to-follow technology resources that you can save, print, and refer back to whenever you need them.

— Kevin

If you’ve used Windows 11 for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that everything seems to want your attention.

Windows wants to remind you about updates. Apps want to tell you about new features. Programs want to advertise themselves. Before long, your screen is constantly lighting up with pop-ups in the corner, and it becomes difficult to tell …

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One of the things that frustrates many Windows users is the feeling that Microsoft keeps pushing them toward a Microsoft account for everything.

When you set up a new Windows 11 PC, Microsoft strongly encourages you to sign in with an online account. In some versions of Windows, it can even feel like using a local account isn’t an option at all.

But what …

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Keeping your programs updated used to be a time-consuming chore. You had to visit dozens of websites, download installers, and update everything one program at a time.

A Huge Time Saver

PatchMyPC automates much of that process. It can scan your computer, identify outdated software, and update many programs with just a few clicks.

One of My Favorite Mainten…

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Over the years, one of the most common requests I received from computer repair clients was:

“My computer feels slow. Can you clean it up?”

This System Cleanup Guide brings together the apps, techniques, and recommendations I’ve used over the years to help keep Windows computers running smoothly. Rather than jumping between multiple articles, you can down…

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When I heard that Fox was acquiring Roku, my first reaction wasn’t panic. My Mom’s Roku isn’t going to stop working overnight, and there is no reason to believe her favorite apps would suddenly disappear. However, the news forced me to think about something I had been putting off for a while: future-proofing.

My Mom’s TV needs are incredibly simple. She watches YouTube and Emby, occasionally Amazon Prime, and that’s about it. She doesn’t install new apps, browse streaming services looking for something new, or spend time exploring features.

She has a collection of TV series on Emby that she enjoys and a handful of YouTube channels she enjoys. For her, the ideal streaming device is one that stays out of the way and simply works.

Unfortunately, that’s not the direction I feel Roku has been heading.

Roku Isn’t the Same Company It Was

Even before the Fox acquisition, I had concerns about Roku’s direction. Over the years, Roku has become increasingly focused on advertising, recommendations, promoted content, and sponsored themes. While these changes are often relatively minor, they add up over time.

The app icons generally stay where they are, but backgrounds change to match sponsors. New content appears, and new promotions are introduced. The interface slowly becomes busier and more focused on Roku’s business interests rather than the user’s experience.

For a technical user, these changes are usually little more than an annoyance. For someone like my Mom and the least tech savvy among us, they can be confusing because when the TV suddenly looks different. She wonders whether she accidentally did something wrong, or that an update screwed something up.

That’s not the experience I want for her.

The Fox Acquisition Was the Final Push

Nobody knows exactly what Fox plans to do with Roku. The apps my Mom uses will almost certainly remain available because it wouldn’t make much business sense to remove popular services that people rely on every day.

What concerns me is something more subtle. Fox didn’t spend billions of dollars to leave Roku exactly as it is today. Over time, I expect tighter integration with Fox-owned services, more promotion of Fox content, additional advertising opportunities, and a greater focus on Fox’s business interests throughout the platform.

Maybe those changes will be small. Maybe they’ll be significant. Either way, the future direction of Roku suddenly became much less certain. At the exact same time, I was thinking about how to make technology easier for my mom in the years ahead, and the timing felt like a sign that it was time to make a decision.

Why Apple TV Made Sense

The funny thing is that I didn’t buy an Apple TV because it has more features. In fact, I bought it because I expect it to be less intrusive.

Apple certainly adds new features, software updates, and capabilities over time. However, Apple generally takes a different approach to introducing those features. Most of the time, they are things you choose to use rather than things that suddenly appear front and center whether you want them or not.

If my mom wants to use YouTube and Emby, she can simply do that. Apple doesn’t rely on advertising to survive, but Roku does. That’s why the Roku is $50, while the Apple TV is roughly $218 when all is said and done.

The interface will stay focused on the apps she actually uses rather than constantly trying to draw her attention elsewhere. For someone whose needs are so simple, that restraint is actually a major advantage.

It Fits the Devices She Already Owns

Another factor is that my mom already uses an iPhone and a MacBook Air. Because of that, the Apple TV integrates naturally with devices she already understands and uses every day.

Her iPhone can help with setup, password entry, and other tasks that are often frustrating on a television screen and remote. When she needs to take the Apple TV to a house sit, the process should also be relatively straightforward. She can plug it into another television, connect it to Wi-Fi with relative ease, and continue using the same familiar interface she uses at home.

Instead of learning someone else’s smart TV system, she brings her own TV experience with her, which she also did with a Roku. That consistency matters far more to her than having access to a long list of features she will never use.

Reliability Matters

We’ve also had Roku devices fail before. To be fair, any electronic device can fail, but Apple TV has a reputation for long software support and high-quality hardware. The current Apple TV is overpowered for someone who only watches YouTube and Emby, but that’s actually a good thing.

My hope is that five years from now, it will still feel fast, responsive, and reliable. A device that feels overpowered today is less likely to feel outdated later.

Was It Worth the Cost?

The Apple TV cost about $218 Canadian after tax, which is a lot of money for a streaming box. If I were evaluating it purely as a gadget purchase, I would have a hard time justifying the cost.

I am buying stability, predictability, and a platform that I believe is less likely to surprise my Mom with changes she doesn’t want or understand. Most importantly, I am buying peace of mind.

The Goal Isn’t More Features

The goal isn’t to give my Mom more technology. The goal is to make technology disappear into the background so that it never, or rarely, becomes an obstacle.

If she can turn on the TV, open Emby, watch her favorite shows, and never think about the device itself, then the Apple TV will have done its job.

Based on what I know today, however, the Apple TV feels like the safer long-term bet. Sometimes future-proofing isn’t about getting more features. Sometimes it’s about reducing the number of things that can go wrong and increasing the chances that the technology simply stays out of the way.

Password managers solve one problem but create another: what happens if something happens to you?

Consider how a trusted family member would access important information if you became seriously ill, passed away, or lost access to your devices. You don’t need to share your passwords today, but you should have a plan.

Think of your Bitwarden vault like a secure cabin in a blizzard. Strong locks are important, but so is making sure a trusted person can find the spare key if they ever need it.

1. Create a Trusted Contact Plan

Consider choosing one trusted person who would know how to access important information if something happened to you. This doesn’t necessarily mean sharing your passwords today, but it does mean having a plan.

2. Leave Instructions, Not Passwords

In many cases, it may be safer to leave written instructions explaining which password manager you use and how to access it. Don’t write down every password.

For example:

• “My passwords are stored in Bitwarden.”

• “The emergency information is in my safe.”

• “My recovery codes are in the envelope labeled Digital Information.”

3. Store Recovery Information Securely

If you use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), make sure your recovery codes are stored somewhere secure and accessible. A trusted family member can’t access your accounts if they can’t get past the second security layer.

4. Keep an Inventory of Important Accounts

Your family may not know which accounts even exist. Consider keeping a simple list of important services such as:

• Email accounts

• Banking and investments

• Government services

• Utilities

• Insurance providers

• Website domains

• Cloud storage services

You don’t necessarily need to list passwords, just the accounts themselves.

5. Review Your Plan Occasionally

Life changes. Relationships change. Every year or two, take a few minutes to review who would have access to your information and whether your instructions are still accurate.

6. Explain Why This Matters

Many people don’t think about digital legacy until they’ve had to deal with it for a loved one.

We often think about physical possessions when planning for the future, but much of our lives now exist online. Having a simple digital legacy plan can save your family countless hours of stress and confusion during an already difficult time.

One final thought: think about what would happen if someone you trust suddenly needed access to your important online accounts. Email, banking, government services, utilities, subscriptions, and family photos all live online now. You don’t need to share your passwords with anyone today, but I encourage you to have a simple plan. A few minutes spent thinking about your digital legacy today could save your family a great deal of stress in the future.

That feels educational rather than morbid, and it aligns well with the practical, real-world tone of the rest of your guides.

Closing Thoughts

That’s it! You are now familiar with Bitwarden, and using it to securely manage your passwords.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this guide, password managers are one of the most important security tools you can use today. They allow you to create strong, unique passwords for every account without needing to memorize them all. Bitwarden’s free version provides everything most people need to take that important step toward better online security.

Of course, passwords alone are no longer enough. I strongly encourage you to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) wherever possible on any account that offers it, especially for important accounts such as email, banking, shopping, and social media. A password manager combined with 2FA provides a much stronger defense against many of the threats people face online today.

I hope this guide has helped remove any uncertainty you may have had about getting started with Bitwarden. Once you’ve used it for a while, managing your passwords securely will quickly become part of your everyday routine.

Thank you so much for downloading this guide and taking the time to read this guide and follow along. I truly appreciate your support, and I hope my free and paid How To Guides help make technology a little less intimidating and a lot more useful.

Jump To:

• How To Download, Install, and Use Bit Warden

• Download, Install, and Use the Bit Warden Standalone App

• Installing and Using the Firefox Extension

• Installing and Using the Chrome Extension

• Your Digital Legacy and Closing Thoughts

One concern I occasionally hear from people using password managers is how to create a readable paper copy of their passwords for emergency purposes. While I generally recommend keeping your passwords stored securely in Bitwarden, there may be situations where you want a printed backup for your records, estate planning, or digital legacy preparations.

Unfortunately, Bitwarden’s export options aren’t particularly printer-friendly. The same goes for 1Password, actually. Fortunately, there’s a simple workaround. By exporting your vault to KeePass and then creating an HTML export, you can generate a much cleaner and more readable document that’s suitable for printing.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process step by step.

This guide assumes you have the Bit Warden desktop app installed and you’re logged into your account.

In the Bit Warden desktop app, click FILE, then EXPORT.

Leave the default option as .JSON, and click the EXPORT button. Save the file to a location where you can easily find it.

First, download and install KeePass 2.x from https://keepass.info/download.html

Open KeePass (2.x), click FILE, then IMPORT.

Under FORMAT, click BITWARDEN JSON. Then click the little folder icon across from SOURCE FILE.

Locate the BitWarden file that you saved a moment ago. Click the file, then click OPEN. Name the database and fill out the other details on the following screen to finish the import.

When the BitWarden export is displayed in KeePass, click FILE, then EXPORT.

Under FORMAT, click CUSTOMIZABLE HTML FILE. Then click the little floppy disk “save” button to save it somewhere you’ll know where to find it.

This is roughly what the KeePass HTML export file will look like. Ignore the fact it says “From 1Password” at the top in my screenshot. The rest will look roughly the same. You can now print this HTML file and it will be much more readable than if it was printed via BitWarden itself.

Closing Thoughts

As I mentioned at the beginning of this guide on how to download install and use Bit Warden, I generally recommend keeping your passwords protected inside Bitwarden rather than relying on printed copies. However, there are situations where having a paper backup makes sense, particularly for emergency planning, digital legacy purposes, or simply giving yourself one more recovery option should the unexpected happen.

If you decide to print your passwords, treat that document with the same level of care you would give cash, legal documents, or other sensitive records. Store it in a secure location and carefully consider who should have access to it.

Technology can help us protect our digital lives, but it’s also worth thinking about how trusted family members might access important information if they ever need to. A little planning today can save a great deal of stress and confusion tomorrow.

Thank you for following along with this guide. I hope it has given you another useful tool for managing your digital life and preparing for whatever the future may bring.

WinDiskWriter: The Mac Utility Every Windows User Should Know About

Following up on my other blog post, “My Goal Was to Wipe My Computers for Recycling, But the Windows Reset “Clean Data” Options Nearly Made My Computers Unusable. Here’s What Worked”, if you’ve ever needed to reinstall Windows from a Mac, you’ve probably discovered that creating Windows installation media is more complicated than it should be.

At first glance, the process seems simple. Download a Windows ISO, write it to a USB drive, boot from it, and install Windows, but Windows installation gets picky when it can’t find any evidence of a previous install of Windows on the drive.

Windows Installers Are Surprisingly Picky

As I have learned, many USB creation tools treat an ISO file as a generic disk image. Their job is to copy the contents of the image onto a USB drive and make it bootable.

A Windows installer contains a collection of boot files, partitions, installation archives, and configuration data that Setup expects to find in very specific ways.

A USB drive can appear to work perfectly at first, booting into Windows Setup without issue, only to fail later when Setup attempts to access files needed to continue the installation.

When you don’t have another Windows machine, you might need to resort to doing something on a Mac, as in my case.

Creating Windows installation media from macOS has historically been frustrating. As described in my other blog post, it took a while to find a solution.

How WinDiskWriter Is Different

Rather than acting as a generic imaging tool, WinDiskWriter was specifically designed to create Windows installation media in macOS. Its sole purpose is to prepare a USB drive in a way that Windows Setup expects when, in my case, the drive had been wiped clean in preparation for recycling.

Instead of simply copying an ISO to a USB drive and hoping for the best, WinDiskWriter performs additional work behind the scenes to create installation media that behaves like a proper Windows installer.

The result is a USB drive that not only boots Windows Setup but is also capable of completing the installation process successfully.

Why It Takes So Long

The first thing many users notice about WinDiskWriter is that it can be surprisingly slow, but still clearly working away.

Compared to utilities such as Balena Etcher, the process often takes significantly longer to complete. That delay can be unsettling if you’re accustomed to seeing bootable media created in just a few minutes.

The extra time is actually a clue that something different is happening.

Generic imaging tools are often focused on copying data as quickly as possible. WinDiskWriter appears to spend additional time preparing the drive specifically for Windows installation. While the exact implementation details are less important to most users, the practical result is that the USB drive is more likely to behave exactly as Windows Setup expects.

In short, the additional time isn’t necessarily a drawback. It’s part of what makes the tool effective.

Who Should Use It?

WinDiskWriter is particularly useful for:

• Mac users creating Windows installation media

• Users who don’t have access to a Windows PC

• People who have experienced unexplained Windows Setup errors

• Anyone who wants a dedicated tool built specifically for Windows installers

If you already have a working Windows computer available, Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool remains the official recommendation, but is clearly designed for a computer where a previous Windows install is evident. When that’s not the case, WinDiskWriter fills an important gap.

Closing Thoughts

One of the most valuable pieces of software is often the tool that solves a specific problem exceptionally well. WinDiskWriter isn’t trying to be a general-purpose imaging utility. It isn’t trying to support dozens of operating systems or countless use cases.

Instead, it focuses on one task: creating Windows installation media from macOS.

That specialization is precisely what makes it useful. When a Windows installer needs to work reliably, sometimes a dedicated tool under specific circumstances is exactly what is needed.

If You Only Knew is a raw and deeply personal account of what happens when a terminal illness tears through a family’s life and leaves no part of it untouched. When Kevin’s father was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy, he was thrust into a world of caregiving, advocacy, medical systems, constant crisis, and relentless decline. What follows is not only the story of his father’s illness and death, but of the lasting trauma, exhaustion, and reckoning that come after.

This is not a polished story about courage in the usual sense, and it does not pretend that love makes suffering noble. Instead, it is an honest, unflinching look at what it costs to stay, what it means to keep going when everything in your life is being reshaped by illness, and the truths few people are willing to say out loud about caregiving, survival, and the health care system. At the same time, it is a story about devotion, resilience, and the moments of love and kindness that still manage to matter in the middle of devastation.

Written as both testimony and reflection, this book preserves the reality of one family’s experience while offering comfort, recognition, and hard-won insight to anyone facing the life-altering illness of someone they love.

Please note that this book is self-edited and self-published, so please excuse any parts of the book that might not look quite right. The contents of this book are what matter.

Buy on Amazon

Purchase on Buy Me a Coffee

After more than twenty years helping regular Windows users fix frustrating computers, Kevin Lloyd has learned something simple: the best software quietly gets out of the way.

This practical guide cuts through marketing hype, AI buzzwords, subscription fatigue, and bloated software ecosystems to focus on programs that genuinely improve the Windows experience. Instead of endless feature lists and technical jargon, Kevin explains what each application actually does, who it is useful for, what settings to avoid, and whether it truly earns a place on your computer.

Inside, you’ll find grounded, real-world discussions about password managers, privacy tools, Windows customization utilities, file transfer software, screenshot tools, backup utilities, media players, productivity apps, and lightweight alternatives to increasingly frustrating built-in Windows software.

This book covers practical software including:

• 0Patch

• Advanced SystemCare

• Brave Browser

• CLCL

• Deck.Blue

• ExpressVPN

• Greenshot

• HandBrake

• ImageGlass

• KeePass

• LibreOffice

• PatchMyPC

• PeaZip

• Proton Authenticator

• Revo Uninstaller

• TeraCopy

• VLC

• WinAero Tweaker

• Windows Toolbox
  …and many more.

This is not a book for software engineers or hobbyists who enjoy endlessly tweaking systems for fun. It is written for regular people who are tired of fighting with Windows, tired of unnecessary complexity, and simply want their computers to feel quieter, more stable, more predictable, and easier to use.

Whether you’re setting up a new PC, cleaning up an old one, improving your privacy, organizing your workflow, or simply looking for software that respects your time, this book offers practical recommendations from someone who has spent decades helping real people solve real computer problems.

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For over 20 years, I worked directly with everyday users at their kitchen tables, in their home offices, over the phone, and through remote sessions. I have also helped countless regular users deal with various software issues, confusing settings, and features that get in the way more than they help. This book comes directly from those “boots on the ground” experiences. Built on real-world conditions rather than theoretical concepts, I wrote this guide to help you keep your computer clean, fast, free of frustrations and annoyances, and easy to use.

This isn’t an overwhelming, all-encompassing manual that tries to cover everything Windows can do, and it’s not meant to be. Please use these chapters as a reference as things come up.

This is a highly targeted, practical guide focused on the parts of Windows 11 that tend to frustrate people the most—and how to fix them without making things more complicated.

Inside, I will walk you through how to:

• Start Fresh: Properly reset and set up Windows 11 to permanently remove the built-in clutter and manufacturer bloatware you didn’t ask for.

• Get Rid of the Distractions: Change the settings that actually make a difference by silencing constant pop-ups, disabling lock screen ads, and stopping background telemetry tracking.

• Take Control: Simplify your experience by ditching Microsoft’s default traps, setting up a secure local user account, and tweaking your taskbar to only show what matters.

• Install Essential Tools: Discover the basic programs most people actually end up using, complete with clear, jargon-free recommendations for web browsers, password managers, and automatic backup strategies.

I guarantee you won’t find any risky registry edits, sketchy third-party downloads, or complicated tech detours here. I designed every step and the advice I give for regular, non-tech-savvy users, and I have rigorously battle-tested them on my own computers, and with my clients for years without issue to ensure they won’t cause you problems.

If you’re tired of clutter, constant pop-ups, unnecessary apps, aggressive upsell screens, I will show you how to clean it up.

More than just a tech manual, I consider this book to be my career memoir, and I take great pride in it. After twenty years of helping everyday people with their computers, I compiled these chapters to reflect the best of what I have learned through my life’s work.

Thank you for trusting me to help you navigate your technology. I hope this guide allows you make your technology more enjoyable to use, and to better enjoy the peace of mind that comes with finally being in control of your computer.

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Recently, I decided to recycle an older Windows 11 computer, along with my other computers ahead of the MAID procedure I have talked about, originally scheduled for May 27th - now June 28th - due to my long-term chronic illness. It’s the reason I shut down my home business.

Before recycling those computers, I wanted to make absolutely sure my personal data was gone, so I used Windows’ built-in reset feature and selected the option to fully clean the drive - the “clean data” option.

The wording makes it sound like exactly what I needed. Windows would securely erase my data, effectively a full format, and leave the machine ready for its potential next owner. The process took a while, which was expected, and I even watched Windows go through the reinstall process afterward. Everything appeared to have worked normally.

Then my plans got delayed by a month.

Instead of immediately recycling the computer, I needed the computer for a few more weeks.

On the Windows 11 computer, I simply expected to power it on and verify that everything was ready before sending it on its way.

The computer wouldn’t boot into Windows, and I still don’t know why, because it had clearly done so after the clean install.

At first, I wasn’t especially concerned. Reinstalling Windows is a fairly routine task, and I assumed that if something had gone wrong during the reset, I could simply create a Windows installation USB and start over. What I expected to be a quick recovery process ended up becoming several hours of troubleshooting, before I stumbled upon the solution.

The Missing Drivers

In my planned final days, I used my MacBook Air as my primary computer.

I downloaded the Windows 11 ISO and used Balena Etcher to create a bootable USB installer, as recommended by others. There was no reason to suspect it would be a problem. The USB drive booted successfully, Windows Setup loaded, and for a moment everything seemed to be going according to plan.

Then Windows Setup displayed a vague message indicating that a required media driver was missing, without further details.

A missing driver suggests that Windows cannot communicate with some critical component.

My first thought was that perhaps the SSD wasn’t being detected properly. Maybe there was a storage controller issue. Maybe the motherboard required some special driver before Windows could recognize the drive.

I haven’t encountered anything like this since my Windows 98 or XP days, when I had a CD with drivers from the manufacturer on hand. I certainly don’t have that these days, as essential drivers are now bundled with Windows, and others are easily downloadable through Windows Update.

Whatever the cause, the error message certainly didn’t suggest that the installation media itself might be responsible.

Creating a Windows USB Stick Without Windows

As the troubleshooting continued, another problem became obvious. Many of the recommended recovery solutions assume that you have access to another Windows computer. I had wiped all of my computers using the “clean data” option in Windows. Only my MacBook Air was usable, as it turns out.

Again and again, I encountered suggestions to use Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool or to create installation media with Rufus. I didn’t have a usable Windows computer, and my Windows install USB sticks weren’t working, hence the “missing driver” message.

I was trying to recover a Windows machine while sitting at a Mac.

I explored several alternatives. I tried to get Windows up and running in a Virtual Machine (VM) using free versions of VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. I looked into Ventoy. I considered Linux-based solutions. Every option seemed to create new obstacles, rather than solving the existing problem.

What started as a simple effort to prepare a computer for recycling had somehow become a multi-platform recovery exercise, and increasingly desperate troubleshooting.

The Tool I’d Never Heard Of

Eventually, after exhausting a long list of possibilities suggested in blog posts, forums, and ChatGPT, I stumbled across a utility called WinDiskWriter. Until that moment, I had never heard of it.

I was willing to try almost anything, so I downloaded the software, pointed it at the Windows 11 ISO, and started creating another installer USB. The process took dramatically longer than Balena Etcher or the Media Creation Tool in Windows ever had.

When I booted the computer from the USB created by WinDiskWriter, the problem disappeared immediately. Windows Setup loaded normally, and installed normally.

Why Did This Happen?

Per ChatGPT, Windows installation media is surprisingly picky. It’s not enough for the USB drive to simply boot. Windows Setup expects the installer files, partitions, boot files, and whatever else it needs to be organized in a very specific way.

Balena Etcher is a general-purpose imaging tool. It excels at writing Linux images and other disk images, but Windows installers have their own quirks. In my case, Etcher created a USB that was good enough to start Windows Setup, but apparently not good enough for Setup to complete its work under the circumstances after a “clean data” install.

WinDiskWriter was built specifically to create Windows installation media from macOS. Rather than treating the Windows ISO like a generic disk image, it appears to build the USB in a way that more closely matches what Windows Setup expects. That’s probably why it took much longer to create the USB than Balena Etcher did.

Not all Windows installer USB drives are created the same way. Two different tools can start with the exact same Windows files and still organize them differently on the USB drive, and do different things with them.

The Media Creation Tool creates installation media that works on the vast majority of systems, but it still has to make choices about how files are stored, how partitions are laid out, and how the installer accesses those files.

Something about the “clean data” reset option in Windows 10/11 makes this tool useless.

WinDiskWriter appears to create the USB differently.

For whatever reason, my computers didn’t like the installer media created by Balena Etcher or the Media Creation Tool. However, it immediately accepted the installer created by WinDiskWriter.

That tells me the issue was never the hardware. It was the way the installation media had been prepared.

WinDiskWriter succeeded because it created a version of the installer that my computer and Windows Setup were both able to read correctly from beginning to end, and didn’t need evidence of a previous Windows install on the drive.

The result was that Windows Setup could finally find and access all of the files it needed.

WinDiskWriter fixed the problem. It created installation media that Windows Setup could fully understand and use.

What makes this particularly frustrating is that Windows never pointed me toward the actual cause. Instead of suggesting that the installation media might be corrupt or incompatible, it presented an error message that sounded like a hardware or driver failure.

Why This Bothers Me

What bothers me most about this is how dependent that solution was on discovering a relatively obscure utility that I had never heard of before.

If I had not found WinDiskWriter, the computer would have remained unusable. The hardware was healthy the entire time, but that didn’t matter while the machine was unable to boot and unable to reinstall Windows.

My goal was simple. I wanted to securely erase the contents of my computers before recycling them. I was performing a routine task using a built-in Windows feature designed for exactly that purpose.

Yet that routine task left me with computers that could not be used until I discovered a third-party utility that was barely mentioned anywhere.

Closing Thoughts

In the end, the computers are working again for my last few weeks, and will be recycled as originally intended. The experience did leave me with one lasting impression, however. When a built-in operating system feature can leave a user dependent on an obscure third-party tool to recover a perfectly functional machine, something about that is very broken.

My goal was to fully erase the drive, not to make the computer unusable. That’s exactly what happened, and the only reason it didn’t stay that way is because I happened to find the right tool.

That shouldn’t be a requirement for successfully recycling a computer.

After four years of trying different ways to build my home business and get it off the ground, I’ve reached a point where the limits of my serious health issues are no longer something I can work around.

I kept experimenting with new ideas, adjusting the way I approached things, and giving myself time to see if any version of this work could fit into the reality of my IBS, and make enough money. It hasn’t. My body can only handle so much, and I’ve run out of ways to stretch my energy any further.

The Reality of Today’s Tech Content Landscape

There is also the state of the tech world itself. Online spaces are packed with people making how-to content. Platforms are dominated by videos and posts covering the same topics from slightly different angles. AI tools have become a go-to for people as well. Even when the information is helpful or unique, very few people financially support it.

YouTube can generate income under the right conditions, but the effort required to produce regular, polished videos is enormous. Most of the creators who manage to keep going do it because they have another job or a repair business that covers their actual living expenses. I don’t have that option, and my health doesn’t allow for that kind of workload, nor for taking on the number of hours that seem to be required to get ahead in this world.

That said, I continue to post occasional videos on YouTube for fun.

What This Work Has Meant to Me

Despite all of this, I have deeply loved and enjoyed this work. Writing, explaining things clearly, and helping people troubleshoot their devices have always been passions of mine.

None of it was a chore. But enjoying something doesn’t guarantee it fits within the limits of a chronic condition, and I’ve had to accept that no amount of my interest or ambition can make up the difference.

Where My Health Stands Now

Anyone reading my Life With IBS Substack will already understand the wider context.

I’ve been pursuing MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) because of my chronic IBS, and I expect final approval soon. Up to this point, my goal was simply to have the choice be mine. I plan to have the procedure in April. Knowing that timeline has forced me to decide what to do with the months I have left.

My Focus for the Months Ahead

My priority now is to make sure Mom has everything she needs after I’m gone, finish writing my memoir, which I am considering posting on my personal Substack blog. I will also give myself space to handle the emotional and practical realities ahead, and do things I enjoy in the time I have left.

A Thank You to Those Who Supported Me

I appreciate the people who supported me while I tried to make this business work through its iterations, whether through reading what I wrote, watching my videos, or simply caring enough to follow along.

I will continue to post occasional thought pieces on my personal Substack, and updates on my IBS blog. I will not delete this website, and I hope many find value in the content I have posted here.

First, I want to extend a huge thank you for being a paid subscriber and supporting my home business. I really mean that. You’re letting me do what I love: helping people, sharing practical tech tips, and creating content that makes technology feel a little more manageable for everyone.

This is my first newsletter just for paid subscribers, and I’m genuinely excited to share it with you. As inspired by Paul Thurrott’s paid newsletter, I don’t want to be boxed into a rigid format. Each monthly issue will evolve over time, sometimes short, sometimes long, but always personal and useful.

Some months, I might answer your questions. Other times, I’ll share reflections, what I’ve been reading, watching, or testing in the Apple or Windows world. Think of this newsletter as a relaxed space, and a place where I can share what’s caught my attention lately.

I’ll be honest, it’s been a hectic month. This is very rare, but I haven’t published any new paid posts. I have been working on several paid how-to guides for people who prefer one-time purchases over subscriptions, along with some new free posts and a couple of videos.

🖥️ The Truth About Switching to Linux for Regular People

In this post, I addressed the recent hype about switching to Linux given the regular end of support for Windows 10. Enroll in the FREE Extended Security Updates program instead.

I’m asking people to NOT rush out and replace Windows 10 or 11 with Linux Mint. I used Linux Mint full-time for two months, and while I admire what the community is building, there are plenty of real-world frustrations that you don’t see in those “just switch” videos online, which often cherry-pick the best features.

It’s better to clean up Windows 10 and make it run better, and without all the junk Microsoft includes by default. That’s where tools like Windows Toolbox ($15 CAD) shine. It’s one of the simplest, safest ways to declutter your system and extend the life of your PC well beyond 2025, especially when paired with Microsoft’s begrudgingly offered Extended Security Updates program.

Read More

What I’ve Been Watching or Listening To

I’ve been catching up on Alberta @ Noon, Cross Country Checkup, and Real Talk, all great for hearing what people across the province (and country) are thinking about current events.

One recent Alberta @ Noon episode, “What Are You Watching?”, sparked discussions about shows like The Diplomat and Task. I tried Task — didn’t care for it.

If I’d called in, I’d have recommended Mobland and The Pitt. Both were outstanding. Mobland (Pierce Brosnan, Tom Hardy, Helen Mirren) was incredibly underrated and deserved more praise.

The Pitt, which won several Emmys in September for its first season, left a lasting impression. It’s gritty, authentic, and surprisingly heartwarming. If you watch anything this year, make it this. Season 2 starts in January.

For podcasts, I’ve enjoyed Where Everybody Knows Your Name (hosted by Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson). Their chat with Mark Ruffalo was terrific. Also worth a listen: Happy Sad Confused with Sigourney Weaver, who shared great stories about Alien and teased an upcoming project. She also shared her apparent praise for Alien: Earth, which I didn’t care for, and Alien: Romulus, which I enjoyed.

As for movies, Wick is Pain (John Wick documentary), Daddio (terrible name, great film), and Rebel Ridge are worth your time. Nobody 2? Not so much. It’s been a rough year for standout movies.

Book-wise, Michael J. Fox’s new one, Future Boy, is excellent. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Back to the Future came to be.

Recent Paid How-To Guides ($5 – $10)

• 🧹 System Cleanup How-To Guide (PDF)

• 💻 How to Set Up Emby on Mac (PDF)

• 📺 Emby App on Roku How-To Guide (PDF)

• ▶️ YouTube App on Roku How-To Guide (PDF)

A Surprising, But Wonderful Conversation

A lady stopped by recently to buy an item listed on Kijiji. Somehow, we ended up talking tech (a rabbit hole I usually try to avoid). Right before she left, she brought up password managers.

Naturally, I had to follow up with a couple of my favorite recommendations:

• Bitwarden — Free for personal use (this is what Mom uses).

• 1Password — My personal choice, and well worth paying for.

I’ll have a blog post and video about this soon, but I wanted you to hear the story here first.

Here’s my FREE How To Guide walking you through BitWarden:

Here’s my FREE Ho-To Guide walking you through 1Password:

Please consider buying me a coffee if you find these free guides valuable.

Closing Thoughts

This first paid newsletter is really a reflection of what I want this space to be, a blend of useful how-to content and personal reflections.

Once again, thank you for caring enough about my work to pay for it. You’re the reason my home-based business exists, and your support gives me the freedom to keep things “Refreshingly Simple”.

Email me directly with any questions or concerns using supporters@kevinthetechguy.ca, and I’ll prioritize your emails. Even if I don’t respond, I’ll consider your thoughts while creating future content.